Title: Snq̓ʷiiq̓ʷó ‘Horse Race’
Print Size: 22.02” x 14.48”
Print Medium: Archival pigment print, Canson Infinity Arches 88 – an ultra-smooth, archival, 100% cotton paper renowned for its brilliance, longevity, and museum-quality craftsmanship.
Original Artwork Information:
Medium: Antique 1891 Map of Montana, colored pencil, ink, copic markers, acrylic paint
Dimensions: 22” by 14.5”
Year: 2025
Artwork Description
Created on an original 1891 map of Montana, this piece depicts the historic horse races that once took place in Arlee, Montana, near where the tribal housing and baseball field are today. Before modern developments, this open area was a gathering place for our people, with a dirt track laid out for the races.
The races were a major event, drawing families and visitors from all directions , and were often tied to the Arlee Powwow, which used to be located there as well. Horse races were a major highlight of community gatherings from the late 1800s through the mid-1900s, before gradually declining after the 1950s.
At the top of the piece, the Salish place name for this area, Snq̓ʷiiq̓ʷó, is written, meaning "horse race," keeping the memory of this important tradition alive on the land where it once happened. When I attended Nkwusm Salish Immersion School, Patlik would often say we were at Snq̓ʷiiq̓ʷó and share stories about the horse races, remembering how they happened at the same time as the powwow. He would describe how the powwow used to last for more than two weeks before people slowly began returning home.
Features:
Title: Snq̓ʷiiq̓ʷó ‘Horse Race’
Print Size: 22.02” x 14.48”
Print Medium: Archival pigment print, Canson Infinity Arches 88 – an ultra-smooth, archival, 100% cotton paper renowned for its brilliance, longevity, and museum-quality craftsmanship.
Original Artwork Information:
Medium: Antique 1891 Map of Montana, colored pencil, ink, copic markers, acrylic paint
Dimensions: 22” by 14.5”
Year: 2025
Artwork Description
Created on an original 1891 map of Montana, this piece depicts the historic horse races that once took place in Arlee, Montana, near where the tribal housing and baseball field are today. Before modern developments, this open area was a gathering place for our people, with a dirt track laid out for the races.
The races were a major event, drawing families and visitors from all directions , and were often tied to the Arlee Powwow, which used to be located there as well. Horse races were a major highlight of community gatherings from the late 1800s through the mid-1900s, before gradually declining after the 1950s.
At the top of the piece, the Salish place name for this area, Snq̓ʷiiq̓ʷó, is written, meaning "horse race," keeping the memory of this important tradition alive on the land where it once happened. When I attended Nkwusm Salish Immersion School, Patlik would often say we were at Snq̓ʷiiq̓ʷó and share stories about the horse races, remembering how they happened at the same time as the powwow. He would describe how the powwow used to last for more than two weeks before people slowly began returning home.
Features:
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